Mechanical lighter



Oct. 17, 1939. w. H. ROLL 2,176,150

MECHANICAL LIGHTER Filed Junve 4, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 a l l 1 INVENTOR. Wd/ef' hf /P0// ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1939. w. H. ROLL MECHANICAL LIGHTER Filed June 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Ilz/1. 1111111111111. n rl, 1,111,111'1,111,111,111111 w ll 'nu \\\\\\\\\\\\`\\\5 l1) IIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR. #V4/fer H. Aa

ATTORNEYS Patented ot.17,1939 2,176,150'

UNITED STATES PATENT oel-ICE 'I'his invention relates to mechanical lighters Fig. 8 is a front edge elevation of the lighter of the types usually referred to as cigar or cigshown in Fig. 7. arette lighters, and the primary object of the Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, central, sectional view invention is to provide, in such a lighter, unique through the upper portion of the lighter illusstructure that will afford a closed passageway trated in Fig. 7, but with the cover in the open 5 for the sparks, created by iiint and iile, as they position. move toward the wick, Fig. 10 is a front edge elevation of the upper Another important aim of the invention is the DOrtiOIi 0I the lighter as iii iS illustrated in Fig- 9, provision of a mechanical lighter, wherein the and,

0 relatively movable flint and flle,which are usually Fig. 11 is a horizontal, sectional view, taken 10 employed to produce sparks, are housed within along line yXI--XI of Fig 9. a closed passageway extending from the zone of 'I'he broad concepts of this invention are emspark production to a point immediately adjabodied in both the form of mechanical lighter cent to the wick, so that as the sparks pass from shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive and that form iiint and le to the wick, the same cannot be shown in Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive. 15 acted upon by air currents which invariably lower In both forms, the mechanical lighter comthe efliciency of any mechanical lighter, andunder prises a two-part case Il. The upper part houses some conditions render the same denitely inand carries the mechanical parts and wick and operative, has a vent hole I6 formed therein. A base mem- A yet further aim of this invention is to prober I8, forming a portion of the lower part, is 20' vide a mechanical lighter of the conventional provided with a filler plug 20, through which may type, with iiint and file spark producing elebe introduced the combustible liquid that is usuments that are actuated simultaneously with the ally employed to impregnate a wick 22. A lling movement of the hinged cover, to the end that of cotton or like fibrous material in the lower but one action on the part of the operator is Part 0f housing I4 aids in holding the combustible 25 necessary to both open the cover ofthe lighter liquid and in keeping the wick 22 in proper opand. relatively move the iiint and iile therein. eratve condition over along period of time. A

Still further objects 0f the invention include portion 26 of wick 22 is projected outwardly the unusually simple, eiective and durable mechthrough the bottom wall of the upper portion of mi anism, which may embody the broader and specase I. The one end of wick 22, which is procie concepts of the invention; and such minor jected, is that end against which impinges a train objects will appear during the course of the folof Sparks that are formed when the cover of lowing specification, referring to the accompanythe lighter is Opened UDOII the release 0f Spring ing drawings, wherein: catch 28. Spring catch 28 is of conventional tu Figure 1 is e verticeL central, sectional view form, has one end anchored as at 30 to one wall 35 through a mechanical lighter made in accordof the upper part of case I4, while the other ance with the present invention. end engages pin 32 mounted on the hereinafter Fig. 2 is a front edge elevation of the same. ynumbered covers. The iinger button 34 extends Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical, central," secthrough the wall 0f CaSe I4 S0 that upon Dressing do tiene] View through the upper portion of the' button 34 inwardly spring catch 28 will release 40' mechanical lighter illustrated in Fig. 1, but with the Coverthe cover in the open position With specific reference now tothe form of the Fig 4 is a front edge elevation of the upper invention shown inFigs. 1 to 6, 1t will be lapparportion of the open lighter as it is shown in ent from the drawings that cover` 36 is hingedly v Fi 3 mounted upon the upper portion of case I4 45 g' through the medium of hinge pintle 38. A `spring Fig. isafragmentary, detailed, sectional view, M, Wound about pintle 38, serves to yieldably taken 319mg une V-V of Ffm' 1 urge cover 36 toward the open position -shown in Fig. 6 1s an irregular horizontahsectlonal view Fig 3, and a combined stop and closing knob 42 through. 'the mechamcal hghter taken 0n une abuts the edge M of case I4 to arrest the opening 50 VI-VIO Fig- 1- movement of cover 36.

Fig. '7 is a vertical, central, sectional view A suitable spacer 46 may be provided to mainthrough a mechanical lighter similar to that tain the sides of case I4 in place and to serve as illustrated in Figs. l toinclusive, but constructed means for holding roller frame 41 against disto embody a modified form of the invention. placement. A series of flanged rollers, extend- 55 lng across from side. to side of frame 41, carry an endless, flexible steel belt 56. This belt 56 has its ends attached to cover 36 to make it an endless element, and when opening cover 36 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, the belt 50 is carried around rollers 48. The form of roller frame 41 is such as to permit free movement of cover 36 to the open position.

A file 52, secured to belt 50 for movement therewith, is reciprocated as cover 36 is opened and closed. The Serrations 54 formed on one side of file 52 directly engage flint 56, and when flle and flint are brought together in the fashion indicated, sparks are formed. Flint 66 is yieldably held against Serrations 54 of ille 52 by spring 56. An adjusting screw cap 66 may be manipulated to vary the tension of spring 58. The zone of contact between flle 52 and flint 56 is within a specially disposed tube 62. This tube 62 not only houses the contacting portions of file and flint 52 and 56 respectively, but extends to a point immediately adjacent to the projected end 26 of wick 22. This tube 62 also presents an enclosed passageway for sparks, and the cross sectional area of the tube progressively decreases as wick portion 26 is approached from the flint.

Sparks formed within tube 62 by the movement of file 52 across the end of flint 56 will be directed out the end of tube 62 because of the quick action of the file. These sparks will be concentrated into a stream which impinges directly upon portion 26 of wick 22 and therefore create a more positive lighting action.

The form of invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to l1 inclusive embodies the same broad concepts with respect to the provision of a tube, but the specific structural form is somewhat varied from that just described. In this instance, cover 64 is mounted for hinging movement upon hinge pin 66, carried by the upper portion of case i4. A spring 68 yieldably urges cov'er 64 to the open position shown in Fig. 9, and a stop 10 limits the opening action. Hinge pin 66 passes through a specially formed tube 12, wherein is mounted a disc-shaped file 14.

Serrations 16, formed upon the annular face of ille 14, engage one end of flint 18 when the file is rotated. Pin 66 is squared so that file 14 and cover 64 move together. Flint 18 is yieldably held against file 14 by spring 80, and an adjustable cap 82 may be manipulated to vary the tension of spring 80. Tube 12 houses the spark forming portions of file 14 and flint 18, and the tube 12 extends to a point immediately adjacent to the projected portion 26 of wick 22. Sparks created by the movement of ille 14 over flint 16 are directed outwardly toward wick portion 26 and tube 12 will afford a completely closed way so that drafts or outside forces will not alter the sparks as they move from point of origin to a place of impingement upon portion 26.

It is obvious from the foregoing that a mechanical lighter embodying the concepts of this invention might assume physical characteristics even different from those illustrated and described, and it is therefore desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A mechanical lighter of the character described comprising a case for receiving combustible fluid; a wick having a portion thereof in the case; a flint; a relatively movable flle positioned for engagement with the flint as the flle is moved to produce sparks; and a tube extending from the flint and flle to a point 'adjacent to one end of the wick for conveying the sparks from the flint and the ille and for directing the sparks onto said one end of the wick.

2. A mechanical lighter of the character described comprising a case for receiving combustible fluid; a Wick having a. portion thereof in the case; a flint; a relatively movable flle positioned for engagement with the flint as the file is moved to produce sparks; and a tube extending f rom the flint and file to a point adjacent to one end of the wick for conveying the sparks from the flint and the flle and for directing the sparks onto said one end of the wick, said flint and said file being arranged within a portion of the tube.

3. A mechanical lighter of the character described comprising a case for receiving combustible fluid; a wick having a portion thereof in the case; a flint; a relatively movable file positioned for engagement with the flint as the file is moved to produce sparks; and a tube extending from the flint and file to a point adjacent to one end of the wick for conveying the sparks from the flint and the flle and for directing the sparks onto said one end of the wick, said tube progressively decreasing in cross sectional area as the Wick is approached from the flint and ille.

4. A mechanical lighter of the character described comprising a case; a wick having a portion thereof projected from the case; a flint; a file movable across the flint to produce sparks; a tube extending from the flint to a point adjacent to the said projected portion of the wick to provide a closed passage for the sparks; a cover for the projected portion of the wick, hingedly mounted on the case; and mechanism interconnecting the flle and said cover for moving the file across the flint as the cover is manipulated to and from the closed position.

5. A mechanical lighter of the character described comprising a case; a wick having a portion thereof projected from the case; a flint; a ille movable across the flint to produce sparks; a tube extending from the flint to a point adjacent to the said projected portion of the wick to provide a closed passage for the sparks; a cover for the projected portion of the wick, hingedly mounted on the case; a spring yieldably urging the cover to the open position; a latch to hold the clover closed; and mechanism interconnecting the ille and said cover for moving the file across the flint as the said spring forces the cover to the open position.

6. A mechanical lighter of the character described comprising a case; a wick having a portion thereof projected from the case; a flint; a file movable across the flint to produce sparks; a tube extending from the flint to a point adjacent to the said projected portion of the wick to provide a closed passage for the sparks; a cover for the projected portion of the wick, hingedly mounted on the case; a spring yieldably urging the cover to the open position; a latch to hold the cover closed; and mechanism interconnecting the file and said cover for moving the ille across the flint as the said spring forces the cover to the open position, the end of said tube adjacent to said Wick being protected by said cover when the latter is in the closed position.

'7. In a mechanical lighter of the kind described having a wick, the combination of a tube terminating adjacent to one end of the Wick; a

ille movably mounted within the tube a distance from the wick; and a flint yieldably held against the ille whereby sparks produced by the movement of said ille over the said int are provided with a closed path of travel from point of origin to a zone immediately adjacent to said wick.

8. A mechanical lighter of the character described comprising a case; a wick having a portion thereof projected from the case; a flint; a file movable across the flint to produce sparks; a tube extending from the iiint to av point adjacent to the said projected portion of the Wick to provide a closed passageway for the sparks between point oI origin and the wick; a cover hingedly mounted on the case; an endless belt carrying the said file; and a series of rollers carrying the belt, said belt being attachedv to said cover for movement over the rollers to carry the ille when the cover is moved.

9. A mechanical lighter of the character described comprising a case; a wick having a portion thereof projected from the case; a flint; a ille movable across the flint to produce sparks; a tube extending from the flint to a 'point adjacent to the said projected portion of the Wick to provide a closed passageway for the sparks between point of origin and the Wick; a cover hingedly mounted on the case; and a hinge pin rotatable about its axis with the cover when the latter is moved, said le being disc-shaped and mounted upon said hinge pin for rotation therewith, the annular edge of said ille being serrated "along the surface thereof which moves across the Bint.

WALTER H. ROLL. 

